Hypothyroidism Meal Plan
+ educational nutrition guide!
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Friday, February 28, 2020
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Friday Faves
Hey hey! Happy Friday! This feels like the shortest weirdest week ever. I still feel the sway like I’m on a boat and am a bit disappointed to wake up each morning and breakfast isn’t waiting. 
The cruise life is a nice one, I tell ya! I think everyone in the house is experiencing a post-vacation funk, including the guinea pigs who had the sweetest pet sitter watching them, and we’re all trying to get back into the swing of things.
A fun mid-week treat: I met up with Meg and Bri to go to Bachelor LIVE On Stage. We’re all Bachlelor fanatics and couldn’t pass up the chance to meet some of the contestants from previous seasons. (PS I’m like 3 weeks behind and I’ve heard the current season has turned into a flaming dumpster fire. Hoping I can catch up a bit this weekend!)
Ben and Becca hosted a condensed live version of the show and introduced Tucson to our own bachelor, a PA named Joe. They had 12 local contestants (many of them were college students from the U of A) and we got to watch Joe narrow them down through first impression rose, games, lip syncing (this was amazing) and even a 3-minute Fantasy Suite. It was a little cheesy but mostly amazing.
We got to meet Ben, Becca, and Sydney afterwards during the Meet and Greet. (We got VIP tickets because YOLO.) I’m always SO awkward when I meet anyone famous or whom I admire, so my plan was to say hello, tell them we loved the show and stand there awkwardly while Meg and Bri did the talking. My plan worked perfectly haha. I have to say that Ben is SO nice in real life – Meg said we were a group of moms and we were nervous and he said, “I love moms” AHHHH – and Becca is a goddess. All of her dresses were so amazing. Sydney was also super beautiful and nice IRL.
It was such a fun girls’ night and I didn’t have a voice yesterday from all the screaming.
Now it’s time for the weekly Friday Faves party! This is where I share some of my favorite finds from the week and around the web. I always love to hear about your faves, too, so please shout out something you’re loving in the comments section below!
Random:
Stasher bags. I picked up some of these for the guinea pigs’ veggies while we were out of town. (I had another brand but I found that they don’t seal as well.) They’re reusable, easy to clean, and I know that I’ll use them frequently for the girls’ snacks and lunches.
Read, watch, listen:
Ghosted. I flew through this book on our cruise and couldn’t wait to finish it! The plot was extremely intriguing and it was the kind of book that leaves you hanging in the best way possible until you get to the very end. The book is about a girl named Sarah and a weeklong romance she has with a guy named Eddie after randomly meeting him one afternoon. Eddie has to leave for an international trip, and they plan to be together as soon as he’s back, but he ghosts her. He doesn’t return any of her phone calls or emails. Part of her wonders if he’s just blowing her off (even though all signs point to true love) but she can’t help but wonder if something horrible has happened to him. Cue all the suspenseful music and Gina staying up way later than normal to find out what happens. Read it; you’ll like it.
This video. I’ve talked about Bark a bit here on the blog and interviewed Roo for the podcast. Watching the video made me feel an expanse of emotions: disgust, gratitude, fear, devastation, and empowerment to do everything possible to protect the kids in our family. Please take 10 minutes out of your day, especially if any kids in your life have access to social media. Then download Bark. (You can use my code FITNESSISTA to get 20% off the monthly rate.)
Beauty + fashion:
These Spanx pants! They were sent in my latest Trunk Club and I loooooooove them. I have to start wearing more business casual attire for weekly meetings (and some upcoming Beautycounter events), so Daniel has been sending me more business casual attire in addition to my usual casual mom mode outfits. These pants are everything you could want from a work pant. They’re classic, stretchy, thick fabric, and flattering. I can tell they’ll be a staple.
(PS to try out Trunk Club, use my referral link! You’ll get a $50 credit to use towards your first purchase.)
Congrats to this month’s mystery hostess rewards winner! For February, I set up a pop up in the system and used those links in my posts about Beautycounter. Through the links, we maxed out the hostess rewards for the pop up so I could surprise a lucky winner with the freebies and discounts (5 free products + 5 50% off products <— no obligation to order anything). Everyone who ordered from Feb 12 through yesterday was entered to win! The lucky winner this month: Carolyn!
To join my Beautycounter newsletter to learn about exciting new things and promos, sign up here.
Fitness + good eats:
Check out this barre and yoga fusion workout
Orange ginger salmon looks awesome.
I’ve been into buddha bowls lately and had this recipe twice (once for dinner and once for lunch) this week. The Pilot and Liv weren’t huge fans, but P and I went crazy for them. The lemon tahini sauce is SO good.
Found these chickpeas at Natural Grocers (love that they’re soaked and pressure cooked. This can make them easier to digest):
Can’t wait to try this family workout with the girls!
This salmon recipe looks awesome.
Question of the day: have you ever met anyone famous? What did you say to them?
xo
Gina
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Thursday, February 27, 2020
SSU Prize Winner: Jordan Cornwell
She is crushing it!
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Wednesday, February 26, 2020
Buffalo chicken dip and Tuscan white bean dip (both dairy-free)
Hi friends! How are ya? I’m sorry for disappearing on ya this past week. It might have been the longest span in 12 years that I’ve gone without posting… including after the births of our children. (Oops.) I had grand plans to have posts pre-written before our cruise, but with the book manuscript deadline, it just didn’t happen. I sent it in, did a ridiculous happy dance, packed up our stuff, and hopped on a plane with the kiddos to meet the Pilot in Miami.
We had the most incredible time. Disney just does it SO right and the girls ran around eating ice cream cones, swimming, and meeting their favorite characters. The Pilot and I enjoyed a fancy dinner, some workout dates, and thoroughly enjoyed watching the girls live their best beach lives. I’ll share a full recap soon!! Our last Disney cruise recap is here + Alaska excursions.
For today, I wanted to share two dip recipes we’ve been loving. I’ve made the buffalo chicken one a few times and it’s been a huge hit. For our Super Bowl party, I made a mental reminder to make at least a double batch next time! I also revamped an old Tuscan white bean dip recipe from the blog days of yore. It was a dinner party fave and I also love it on wraps, salads, or on top of protein.
Here are the super easy and healthy recipes!
2 healthy homemade dairy-free dip recipes
Buffalo Chicken Dip
This dip recipe is packed with protein and is so delicious with celery or your favorite crackers. Add more hot sauce if needed!
PrintBuffalo chicken dip (dairy-free)
An easy, protein-packed dip recipe that’s also dairy-free! Enjoy with celery sticks and your favorite crackers
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: N/A
- Total Time: 20 minutes
Ingredients
1 lb. cooked chicken breast, shredded
4 oz Kite Hill plain cream cheese
3 tablespoons mayonnaise (I used vegan mayo)
4 tablespoons hot sauce (more if needed)
1/2 teaspoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Serve warm!
Keywords: buffalo chicken dip, healthy dip, dairy free healthy dip recipes, homemade dip recipes
Tuscan White Bean Dip
This is one of my very favorite dip recipes. It has savory sweet tomatoes, fresh basil, garlic, and olive oil. It’s awesome on a wrap with some sliced veggies, in salads, or served with crudités.
Here’s the recipe:
PrintTuscan White Bean Dip (dairy-free)
A simple and savory vegan dip recipe. It’s also delicious on wraps or in salads!
Ingredients
1 can white beans, drained and rinsed
3 oz sun-dried tomatoes (marinated in olive oil)
1 teaspoon dried basil
1/3 cup olive oil
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Salt to taste
Fresh basil for serving
Instructions
In a small food processor, combine all ingredients and blend until smooth. Taste and adjust salt if necessary.
Serve in a bowl, drizzled with olive oil and topped with fresh basil.
Are there any dips or sauces you like to make each week? I’d love to hear about your faves! I feel like they make veggies and lunches a bit more fun. 
xo
Gina
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Tuesday, February 25, 2020
4 Easy Ways to Self Care at Home
How are you liking this month of love? I know V Day puts such a big emphasis on romantic relationships, but I’m really hoping that you’re using all the love in the air to focus on yourself, babe! I mean, if you’re doing the Lots of Love challenge with us, you def are. (Are you…
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Sunday, February 23, 2020
Lots of Love Week 2
Lots of Love week 2!
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Thursday, February 20, 2020
Healthy Life Swap!
OMG the pancake!
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SSU Prize Winner: Natasha Perry
Check out her crazy amazing transformation!
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Wednesday, February 19, 2020
Latest skincare routine
Hi friends! Happy Wednesday! I hope you’re enjoying the week. We’re heading to the airport, so I’ll be sure to share lots of adventures on IG stories when I have those internets. In the meantime, I thought today would be a good day for a skincare post! I’ve had some requests to share my current routine, so I thought I’d post the goods. My routine fluctuates depending on the time of year or if I’ve found new products, but here’s what it looks like right now. I always love to learn about new techniques and products so if there’s a new fave in your life, please share the love in the comments section so we can all shop together.
My daily skincare routine:
1) Wash:
My skin is sensitive and my eyes are annoyingly sensitive. (Example A.) I have to be careful what I use on my eyes, or they burn, turn red, or I get these weird little bumps from too much oil. For now, my favorite cleanser is this blueberry bounce cleanser. It’s so gentle that I can actually use it on my eyes to get off eye makeup without it hurting or burning. (I put some with water on a washcloth and carefully rub the makeup off my eyes and then rinse.) I used to use jojoba oil to remove eye makeup but realized I was getting more of the little bumps on and around my eyes. I stopped using it and switched purely to the blueberry bounce cleanser. The blueberry scent is beautiful and it’s very gentle.
Exfoliate: to exfoliate, I use a few different things. This Eminence exfoliator smells gorgeous and isn’t too harsh. Rice powder absorbs oil while lactic and salicylic acids remove dead skin cells. The strawberries and rhubarb infuse the skin with antioxidants. Every few days, I also use this Overnight Peel. It’s one of my very favorite products because it makes skin tight, glowing, and helps to reduce fine lines and wrinkles. It’s seriously magic in a bottle. (Friends who have used this noticed a difference within 24 hours!)
Once a week, I’ll also use the charcoal mask to help with impurities and balance my skin. The best part about this mask is watching every single pore appear. YIIKES. You wash it away and skin feels remarkably brighter and smoother.
2) Prep:
Toner! I’ve tried a few different ones that I rotate between and love. Currently I’m using this green tea toner. It’s jasmine water facial toner infused with green tea, willow bark, and witch hazel to balance, clarify, and hydrate combination, oily, and blemish prone complexions. I feel like it really smooths out my skin and preps it for heavy moisturizer before bed, or for daily moisturizer and makeup in the morning.
The other toners in the rotation:
– Countertime hydrating essence. This is like a toner but more beneficial because it delivers nutrients into the skin. This product uses Beautycounter’s plant-based alternative to Retinol: a combo of bakuchiol and Swiss Alpine Rose. It also includes sea water for vital nutrients and minerals to the skin and fermented sugars to slow aging and optimize hydration.
– Wahmisa organic flower deep rich essence toner: My first experience with a toner was with this one and the first night I tried it, I was like, “I”VE BEEN MISSING OUT MY ENTIRE LIFE.” This one smells so gorgeous, like a floral perfume and is made with mostly organic ingredients. The only problem is that it’s harder to find now. I think I used to order it from the Glow Recipe website but it’s no longer available and I heard the ones on Amazon aren’t always legit.
– fresh rose floral toner. It smells dreamy and is alcohol-free. It’s mostly rosewater, so I think you can absolutely find similar versions at the health food store for less.
3) Nourish:
I alternate between serums, usually using this Countertime serum and the Boissance serum. They both use a plant-based retinol and help with firmness and elasticity. I haven’t noticed a huge difference between the two – I love them both – but the Countertime version has better ingredients and also includes the Swiss Alpine Rose to boost antioxidant defense.
4) Moisturize
Daytime: Skinmedica Defense Moisturizer SPF 35. I mix this with tarte bb cream or the Dew Skin for moisturizer. I don’t usually use true foundation on my skin because it looks and feels heavy.
Nighttime: My night cream love is the Supreme Cream. It feels like the most luxurious moisturizing cream, but isn’t greasy. It helps with elasticity, hydration, and firmness.
I used to be obsessed with this moisturizer (and it was a major splurge about twice a year) but they changed the formula! I bought one and it was super greasy and gross. Thankfully, Countertime Surpreme Cream came out a few months after that and I’ve been super happy with the switch.
Occasional:
This watermelon sleeping mask. It goes on in a thin layer and smells like watermelon Jolly Ranchers. (I think I learned from this post that scent is a game changer for me when it comes to skincare. It has to be unscented or smell incredible.) The next morning, my skin feels soft and smooth. It’s also gentle enough that I can let Liv use it occasionally and she feels fancy.
5) Eye cream:
This is my go-to eye cream. The moisture level adapts to what you need, so I’ve found that it’s the perfect amount of hydration without being too thick or oily. I also love the Countertime eye cream.
Tools: I use this gua sha set and jade roller! I try to use them at least once a day to help reduce puffiness and increase blood flow (nutrients and oxygen) to my face. I also dry brush my skin using this dry brush whenever I take a shower, working towards my heart in long sweeping motions. I do clockwise on my stomach and booty.
Whew! So there ya go. It’s funny because it’s easy to think you don’t use a ton of products, but when you sit down to actually list them, it’s a lot! This is why it’s important for me to use safer options whenever I can because the cumulative effects add up. (I pick and choose where it makes sense for my life. I’ll never stop using my beloved Moroccan oil.)
I’ll do an updated makeup post soon!
So tell me, friends: what’s your skincare must-have? Anything amazing that you’ve recently discovered??
xoxo
Gina
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Tuesday, February 18, 2020
8 Moves to Burn Fat at Home!
There are TONS of ways you can get in a good cardio sweat sesh without spending boring hours on a machine. In fact, you don’t need any equipment at all to burn serious calories, torch fat and get a killer workout in! Love it or hate it, cardio is an important part of every exercise…
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Monday, February 17, 2020
heart eyes weekend
Hi friends! How are you? Happy Monday! I hope you had a lovely weekend. Ours went by in a blur, but we filled it with lots of fun and family adventures. Friday morning, the girls were so surprised with their Valentine’s goodies. Sometimes I feel like I’m “on it” with Valentine’s stuff and other years I kind of drop the ball. (I see all of these crazy Valentine’s baskets on Pinterest and I’m like, “We’re good if I remember to buy some cards and Reese’s.” I also realized we usually travel over Valentine’s Day. We’ve done Disney a couple of times and San Diego.) Anyway, they liked the lil treats, and we dropped Liv at school before taking a walk with P at Sabino Canyon.
The weather has been INSANE lately – it’s like spring! – so we ended up walking for about an hour. P sprinted most of the time and then the Pilot and I took turns giving her piggyback rides until we made it back to the car. We picked Liv up from school and the Pilot spent some time with the girls while I headed to the dentist (a last-min thing that really crushed my afternoon mojo haha).
A little something special about Valentine’s Day: we had a babysitter! The Pilot and I don’t usually go out on V-day because babysitters are usually busy. I was shocked when ours told us she was free. I ordered the girls heart-shaped pizza and they watched the new Zombies 2 while the Pilot and I had an amazing dinner at Charro del Rey.
We were laughing because we didn’t think Valentine’s Day was a “thing” anymore since we haven’t gone out to celebrate in so long. Turns out it’s still very much a thing and restaurants are booked out and packed. We got lucky snagging a reservation to Charro del Rey a couple of days in advance, and they had a great four course tasting menu.
I had a prickly pear margartini, which is like a margarita meets a martini. (Don’t ask me what was in it because I have no clue, but it was very smooth and delicious.)
We shared the tableside Caesar salad (my fave thing at Charro del Rey), and each got crab and corn chowder, arugula and beet salad, and he had the prime rib for his entree while I enjoyed the lobster tails. For dessert, we got both of the options: fried champagne strawberries and chocolate sorbet with Grand Marnier. It. was. awesome.
Saturday, the Pilot took the girls to the zoo while I stayed inside writing my face off. (I have to admit that it was a little painful but I had to get the manuscript finished.) They said hello to the meerkat for me,
rode the carousel, and saw every exhibit. They came home for a bit and we all had Sweet Tomatoes for dinner (the girls’ favorite place), then I babysat for EJ and August while Kyle and Meg went to an event. Augs was sleeping most of the time, but it was a lot of fun to play toys with EJ, color, read some books, and put her to bed. <3
Sunday morning was a sweaty yoga class, and then we took Liv to meet up with a friend for a play date at Defy.
(I got these furry slides at pure barre to wear to barre and yoga. Whenever I go to the grocery store after class, I look pretty bizarre: drenched in sweat, bloodshot eyes, and strolling around in my slippers.)
The girls all jumped their hearts out for a couple of hours and when we asked Liv’s friend where she wanted to go for dinner, she wisely suggested sushi. I had a spicy salmon poke bowl, the girls all ate three different sushi rolls, and we all enjoyed miso soup and edamame. It was a great way to end the weekend!
This week, it’s back to the swing of things and getting ready for our cruise. I’m pretty pumped for some sunshine and beach time.
I hope you have a happy Monday and I’ll see ya in the morning with the current skincare routine.
xoxo
Gina
Looking for a workout? Try this kettlebell circuit!
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Sunday, February 16, 2020
Lots of Love Week 1
Lots of Love week 1!
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Friday, February 14, 2020
Friday Faves
Hey hey! Happy Friday and happy Valentine’s Day! I hope your day is filled with flowers, chocolate, and time with those you love. The Pilot is off work and in town today, which is a gift in itself. I’m so excited to have him here and celebrate the day with our two favorite lil valentines.
We have some fun surprises planned for the girls and I can’t wait. I’d love to hear what you’re up to!
(Shiba coin purses, Reese’s, these cool electronic writing tablets and the Pilot got them each glitter roses)
This week has been pretty busy with wrapping up book stuff – my manuscript is due on Tuesday – and the usual shenanigans. We had choir rehearsal this week (I’m loving it so, so much), I taught a bootcamp and spin class, and shuffled the girls around to all of their activities. They both moved up in gymnastics this week, which was really exciting. P is moving from the little kids’ gym to the big kids’ gym and Liv is already in one of the advanced levels. They’re rocking it!
It’s time for the weekly Friday Faves party. This is where I share some of my favorite finds from the week and around the web. I always love to hear about your faves, too, so please shout out something you’re lovin’ in the comments section below.
Read, watch, listen:
I felt this post so strongly in my heart (and also why I feel incredibly happy yet cringe at televised military reunions).
New parent anxiety is for real (and I feel like it lasts way past the newborn stage).
Fashion + beauty:
Countertime comes with a free full-sized eye cream! Check it out here. This is the line I use daily and love. The serum and supreme cream are my faves.
Ok, so I didn’t know if these would make it as a fave for this week, but here they are! I ordered this Static Nails set after being ad targeted on Facebook. (PS once I was looking in FB settings and they classified me as a “very engaged shopper.” Busted lol.) I’ve been going a bit longer in between dip appointments because of deadlines and time. I’ve been taking the dip polish off, wearing regular nail polish for a week or so, then getting dip again. After having dip powder on my nails for over a year, I can’t stand the way regular polish looks and feels. I feel like I can see all of the ridges in my nails from where the spinning tool thing shaved off my nail and the polish cracks in a day.
The Static Nail polish said it would last up to 10 days and is vegan, cruelty-free, and made with nontoxic ingredients. It also had overwhelmingly positive reviews so I decided to give it a whirl.
The bottles are very small. They’re like 1/3 the size of a regular bottle of polish, but you get a lot of different shades in the set. I love all of the neutral colors! You wash your hands, paint on the primer, 2 coats of polish, and then top coat, making sure to seal the top of each nail. It took a long time to dry (about 20 minutes) and seemed gummy at first but it’s lasted pretty well! I’m on day 3 with only one small chip and I like that the top coat is super shiny. I’m getting dip again tomorrow (thank goodness), but this will be my go-to in between appointments.
This coverup! It’s another one I ordered for our trip and it was only $30. The fabric is a bit wrinkly, but surprisingly nice, and it will be so cute over a suit with a hat this spring/summer.
Fitness:
Try this Valentine’s Day partner workout!
What’s on your workout playlist?
High tempo music can make exercise easier and more beneficial
Happy Friday, friends!
xoxo
Gina
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Thursday, February 13, 2020
SSU Prize Winner: Alicia Crow
Look at those abs!
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What to do, see, eat, and where to stay in Tucson
Sharing some tips from a Tucson native on what to do, the best restaurants, and where to stay in this amazing lil city.
Hi friends! Hope you’re having a lovely morning. We’re having an amazing Beautycounter promo right now: order any regimen or collection and get a free full-sized product! Details are here. You know how much I love Countertime! If you didn’t get this week’s safe skincare newsletter and place an order, email me and I’ll let you know about something special I’m doing for clients right now. To join the safe skincare newsletter, click here!
For today’s post, I’m sharing some of my favorite things about Tucson! While I totally understand that Tucson isn’t the must-see destination of the US, it is a really unique spot with incredible local restaurants and exquisite scenery. There aren’t many places like it, and while I’m biased since I was born here, I’ve grown more fond of Tucson as I’ve gotten older. (For example, in high school I was like, “GET ME OUTTA HERE” and then when I finally moved far away, I couldn’t wait to eventually come back.)
Lately, I’ve been inundated with requests on where to eat and where to stay here in town. We’re at the end of winter and hitting some of our most gorgeous weather, so it makes sense that so many people plan on early springtime trips.
Here are some of my top suggestions for what to do in T-town!
What to do, see, eat, and where to stay in Tucson
What to do in Tucson for a day
1) Wake up and grab a coffee at Ren coffee in St. Phillip’s plaza. They have incredible drink and snack options – I love their housemade vegan protein bars. If you’re lucky, it will be over the weekend and you can explore the farmer’s market and get a crepe from Planet of the Crepes for breakfast.
2) Head up to La Encantada for some outdoor shopping (they have an anthropologie, lululemon, kate spade, Athleta, and Pottery Barn) and a craft at Creative Kind. They have drop-in crafts that you have do, including indigo tie dye, wall macrame hangings, watercolors, and wreaths. This is the perfect spot to hang out with a friend and make a little souvenir with a Tucson twist.
3) Drive down Campbell and enjoy brunch at the best spot: Prep & Pastry. Everything on the menu is good and you can choose if you’d like something a little lighter, like their avocado toast or sweet breakfast bowl, or something more indulgent, like the biscuits and gravy or French toast (changes daily). No matter what you do: order one or two of their fresh pastries to share.
4) Head back to the hotel for some downtime at the pool, or down to University, 4th Ave, or the MSA Annex to explore the shops.
5) Late afternoon, enjoy a stroll at Sabino Canyon, which is one of the most picturesque hikes in Tucson. You can also ride on the eco-friendly tram that makes stops along the main trail. (The entire distance up and back is 7.4 miles.)
6) Dinner at Cafe Poca Cosa, followed by drinks and music on the patio at Hotel Congress or on the rooftop bar at Playground. Cafe Poca Cosa is still my favorite dinner spot for out-of-town guests. The menu changes twice daily, based on what’s fresh at the market and servers carry around an enormous chalkboard with the menu options. I recommend the Plato Poca Cosa, which is chef’s choice, and if everyone at the table orders the plato, they’ll all be different!
Favorite taco spots in Tucson
– Boca Tacos. These are our favorite tacos in Tucson! They have so many incredible flavor options, a guacamole flight (!), great margaritas, and chips that arrive hot out of the bag. Just do it.
– Calle Tepa. This is an awesome spot that we go to almost weekly for casual street Mexican food. The service is insanely fast and the good is always good. This is a great spot to take the kids!
– Blanco Tacos. Blanco is located in La Encantada (our most high-end shopping center), surrounded by shops, other restaurants (we also love North and Ra) and gorgeous city views. They have the BEST rice.. it’s creamy, buttery perfection.
Healthy restaurants in Tucson
Tucson has so many incredibly local restaurants with healthy options. You can go pretty much anywhere and find something that will sound good to you. (For example, you can go to Prep & Pastry and get the best pancakes of your life, or a sweet potato hash with eggs. You do you!) For this section, I’m focusing on the best restaurants that focus on health-centered food. What I mean by this: they’re plant-based, source local and organic incredibles, offer vegan and gluten-free options, and will make you leave completely full, but still feeling energized.
Goodness:
Goodness is one of my favorite lunch spots in Tucson. They have smoothies, bowls, fresh juices, kombucha, it’s awesome.
Charro Vida:
Charro Vida is one of the newer spots that I love. They have a ton of vegan and gluten-free menu options, including gluten-free chocolate churros!
Renee’s Organic Oven:
I’ve loved Renee’s Organic Oven for a long time. They use a lot of organic and local ingredients, have amazing pasta and pizza dishes, great wine, and fab desserts.
August Rhodes:
This is the best sandwich spot in Tucson, hand’s down. The sandwiches aren’t gluten-free, but they have salad and soup options. All of the bread is made in house and it is amaaaazing.
*Tumerico:
I actually haven’t been here yet but everyone RAVES about it! It’s Mexican food with lots of healthy options. Maybe we’ll finally head down there this weekend.
Lovin’ Spoonfuls:
This is an entirely vegan restaurant with lots of gluten-free selections. One of my friends from high school is their pastry chef and makes all of the ridiculous creations in the dessert case each day, including different brownies, cakes, pastries, and pop tarts (AHHHHH). My fave is the falafel, greek salad, and gf pita bread.
Saffron Indian restaurant:
Saffron is our favorite Indian restaurant in town – they catered my bday party! – and they have a lunch buffet, too.
Guilin Chinese Restaurant:
This is a healthy Chinese restaurant that Kyle goes to often. (if Kyle likes it, you know it’s good!)
Where to stay in Tucson
– Loew’s Ventana Canyon: This is the hotel I recommend the most often because it’s nice, they have a great pool, it’s perfect for families (they have a playground and a koi pond where you can feed the fish, plus a small trail that leads to a man-made waterfall), and their Sunday brunch is LEGENDARY. It’s also in a great location. It’s safe and quiet while being about 20-25 minutes away from most popular areas and destinations.
– Hacienda del Sol. Hacienda is a quieter hotel, nestled in the Catalina Foothills. They have a courtyard with twinkling lights, a fabulous restaurant on site, and is also in a desirable location.
– Miraval. Miraval is a world-renowned health resort, featuring on fresh and healthy cuisine, spa services, fitness classes, activities and treatments focused on well-being. It’s all-inclusive (so meals and many activities are included, plus you receive spa credit) so it’s definitely worth a trip if you plan to stay on property, Zen out, and life your best spa life. Check out my review of Miraval here!
– Arizona Inn. This is a historic boutique hotel in central Tucson. It’s closer to the university and downtown dining and shopping options.
– Tanque Verde Guest Ranch. This is another great choice if you bring the kiddos! The rooms are a little bit older, but they have awesome Southwestern casitas (see our review here!) and their Sunday cowboy cookout is amazing. We’ll often go for dinner when the weather is warm to enjoy the food, prickly pear margaritas, and live music. They also have a great pool, horseback riding lessons and camp for the kids, fishing, and activities.
Honorable mention: The Ritz-Carlton at Dove Mountain. It’s a Ritz, it’s in a gorgeous location, but a pretty far hop on the freeway from most fun things in Tucson. I’d stay there if you don’t mind driving back and forth or if you just plan on living the hotel life while you’re here.
Honorable mention: Hotel McCoy. We haven’t visited this one yet, but I’ve heard so many positive reviews! It’s an art boutique hotel.
What to do in downtown Tucson
Some bars to check out:
– Sky Bar- solar-powered cafe, astronomy bar at night
– Downtown Kitchen & Cocktails- love the vibe here!
– Scott & Co – a small speakeasy for a low-key vibe (though it’s packed on the weekends)
– Highwire Lounge- this is a great people-watching spot on the patio
– Cobra Arcade Bar- they have game-themed cocktail and old-school arcade games
Date night options in Tucson
– Commoner & Co. – I’ve been raving about Commoner for years and it’s still our go-to date night spot. Just go and try it – make sure to get reservations first
– The Flying V – Their tableside guacamole is our favorite. Their food was just meh last time we went, but I’d definitely go for guacamole, chips, drinks and dessert
– Tito and Pep – their cocktails are incredible and they have add a Mexican flair to bistro cuisine
* The Coronet – haven’t checked this out yet but Kyle said it’s excellent
– Charro del Rey – the table side Caesar salad is SO good and they also have oysters (a rare find in Tucson)
– The Grill at Hacienda del Sol – a great date night spot and they often have live music on the weekends
– Gaslight Theatre – our local melodrama theatre, where you can “boo” at the bad guys, cheer for the heroes, and enjoy diner food while watching a live show. Definitely bring the kids along for this one
– Laff’s Comedy Club – this is our local comedy club where you can see local and national acts. They also have a bar + appetizers
– Top Golf – we’ve recently become huge Top Golf fans, which is funny since we’re not real golfers. The food is great and it’s fun to have a friendly competition (and quote Happy Gilmore the entire time).
I think that’s it!
Are you planning any little trips or vacations soon? What’s the #1 thing you recommend to people when they visit your hometown?
I’ll share a post soon with kid-friendly dining ideas and family activities!
xoxo
G
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Tuesday, February 11, 2020
The great gallbladder update
A gallbladder update (I wasn’t sure if you guys would want one but it’s the #1 search term on the blog every single day).
So here it is! A whole post about an…organ.
I hesitated to write this post for a couple of reasons. 1) Maybe this signals the death of my blog when I’m writing about a gallbladder?? lol and 2) Not only is this about an organ, but it’s pretty much the least glamorous one out there. Never google pictures of an actual gallbladder.
I didn’t really want to write this post because ew and blah but after checking my blog stats, month after month, the top search term was “gallbladder.” I figured it made sense because I didn’t write much about it (not intending to be vague but to avoid boring you with personal medical details) and figured it would be worth a post because gallbladder issues are so common and many of you may be experiencing something similar. Please keep in mind that I’m not a medical professional. I’m just sharing my experience. Comments attacking me, my gallbladder (heh), and/or other posters will be deleted.
Here’s the story:
About 6 months ago I did some hormone testing. I was feeling tired and my previous hormone test had shown some low levels, so I did the DUTCH test, which is a gold star in hormone testing. It tests EVERYTHING. My body was making sufficient hormones but not processing them effectively, leading to estrogen dominance. This is what can cause PMS symptoms, mood swings, and fatigue. When my doctor was going over the Dutch test results, he mentioned that I had some signs of fatty liver disease. He said that the gallbladder supports the liver and that he would send me some supplements that would help my liver and my gallbladder work together to process hormones and all of the other functions that they need to do, especially digestion. I received the supplements and was really excited to try them out. They were plant-based herbs (and an ox bile one that makes my stomach churn to think about…) but it was a lot more supplements and I’m used to taking and many of them were alcohol-based. I only drink maybe twice a week now, so alcohol in my stomach first thing in the morning was rough. I took the supplements twice that day, and was up all night curled in a ball with searing pain in my stomach.
This was alarming to me because besides the occasional gluten food baby, I’ve never really had stomach issues. I I texted my naturopath and he said it sounded like an ulcer (even though I thought the supplements likely made me sick). I couldn’t eat anything besides applesauce for two days and I reached out to one of my good friends who is a PA to see if I could get in for an appointment. I’m glad I decided to see her through all of this because she’s become my favorite medical provider. She’s extremely thorough and while she has a more Western medical philosophy, she believes in solving problems instead of masking symptoms. She’s absolutely amazing and wanted to check all the boxes, so she ran a bunch of test and suggested an abdominal ultrasound just to make sure I didn’t have an ulcer or anything else going on.
When I got the ultrasound of my stomach, it was painful for them to press down on my organs. Thankfully everything looked good but the ultrasound showed two small polyps in my gallbladder. (No gallstones or anything like that.) My PA told me that the polyps could have been there this entire time and were likely cholesterol deposits but that we would keep an eye on them over time and monitor for any changes. Worst case, I would end up having to have my gallbladder taken out. (She said of all of the organs to lose, that’s the best one.) I also started working with Ali Damron over the fall and she has me on a couple of very gentle supplements that have helped remarkably with the estrogen dominance issues.
I understand that a lot of things are outside of our control but I am also a believer in controlling any variables that we can. I researched a ton and I learned a lot about gallbladders -I never thought I would know so much about dang gallbladders -and I’m not going to share everything I did here because the and result is that the polyps didn’t go away. (I highly recommend this book if you’re having any gallbladder probs!)
The good news is that there were no changes. I recently had another ultrasound and the polyps were same size. My PA said that since I don’t have any symptoms, we’ll likely just wait and watch. If they change or grow over time, or if I start to have symptoms, I’ll have to have it taken out. For now, it would be cool if I got to keep it, mostly because I’m SO OVER surgeries.
Over the past six months I’ve made some changes to my diet to make my gallbladder happy. They’re not huge fans of dairy or gluten, which are two things that have made me bloated and uncomfortable for years. Since I’ve paid more attention to keeping them away for now, I’ve been WAY less bloated and feel great. (Real sourdough doesn’t mess with me if it’s made the old-fashioned way.)
If I know I’m going to a party or holiday event and am going to eat dairy/gluten or super heavy/rich foods, I just pop a couple of these:
(I order these through Thrive Market! You can use my link to get 25% off your first order.)
I eliminated eggs for the past 5ish months (apparently gallbladders can also have probs with eggs and pork, and I don’t eat pork) in the hopes that maybe it would help the polyps go away. Since they’re still there, I’m eating eggs again and OMG I MISSED THEM. I’m just trying to be more moderate about it, and instead of 2-3 eggs per day (that I had for years and years!) I’m having about 2 a week. I found a lot of egg-free breakfast options that I love over the past few months.
Since this whole experience happened:, I’m doing more things that are good for our health as a whole:
– I’m eating way more colorful foods, leafy greens, and veggies.
– Stopped tracking macros. I was eating a lot of brown food and heavy animal proteins to hit my numbers, and found that I was often eating when I wasn’t hungry to hit a number. I’m back to eating more intuitively and it feels great. My food is way more nutrient-dense, higher in fat, lower in protein, and more varied.
– I’m drinking more water. My Hydroflask is my constant companion and I try to refill it at least twice during the day.
– I’m practicing hot yoga regularly again. Yoga can help our organs function more effectively, plus you get the benefits of mindfulness, flexibility, and a good sweat. I’ve been going about once a week since school started in the fall, and it’s something I look forward to each week.
So there’s the story! We’re just watching and waiting and hoping for no changes. Thanks to those of you who sent me good vibes along the way. <3
xoxo
Gina
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6 Reasons Sugar is the Absolute WORST!
and why you need to ditch it now!
The post 6 Reasons Sugar is the Absolute WORST! appeared first on Love Sweat Fitness.
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Monday, February 10, 2020
Les Mills Barre Review
Sharing my thoughts and review of the Les Mills Barre program through Les Mills On Demand. Use my link and get 21 days free! (Referral link but this post is not sponsored.) I’m a huge fan of Les Mills workouts because they have so many different class options and incredible instructors.
Hi friends! How are you? I hope you had a wonderful weekend! We had a day date, survived (and enjoyed) the avalanche of birthday parties, and I cranked away on the book. I’m volunteering at Liv’s school this morning, so I’ll be back soon with a weekend recap, but in the meantime, I wanted to share some thoughts on a newer-to-me workout format: Les Mills Barre!
Les Mills Barre Review
While I use and LOVE the Les Mills On Demand platform, I very rarely do the barre or dance cardio workouts, which is silly because they’re two of my favorites. I tend to favor the more intense formats and tried and true faves for LMOD, like BODYPUMP, GRIT and BODYATTACK. The other day, I was in the mood for something different and low-impact and barre came to mind. I pressed play and felt the hibernating dancer in me come to life. I got an awesome sweat and really enjoyed the workout!
What is a Les Mills Barre Class?
The Les Mills Barre format is structured based on classical ballet movement, instead of fitness exercises with a dance spin. It’s different than the boutique barre formats that many of us are used to and has a strong ballet foundation. It’s not uncommon for the instructors to throw out the French names of the movements after a couple of rounds of the exercises. You’ll work in various ballet positions and complete pliés, tendus, arabesques, leaps, turns, etc. Even though it’s rooted in classical ballet, this doesn’t mean you have to be a dancer to follow along. In pure Les Mills style, they do an excellent job of setting up proper form and explaining the movements as they progress.
The class is 30 minutes and consists of 8 tracks. In each track, the base movements and emphasis change. Just like other Les Mills formats, the exercises and choreography complement the music.
From the website:
LES MILLS BARRE
is a 30-minute ballet-inspired style of training that works to shape and tone your whole body. We begin with a warm-up, followed by a sequence of cardio-esque training, building to a cardio peak. We then move into ballet strength, using light weights, and finish with targeted balletic conditioning to complete your full-body training.
What do you need for the workout?
– Space to move around
– A set of light weights or flat plates (I like 2-5 lbs)
– A water bottle
– A mat
– Access to the class! You can take these live in studio if your gym offers Les Mills classes, or use my link for a free 21-day trial
Les Mills Barre Benefits
– The moves match the music. This is my FAVORITE thing about Les Mills. I feel like it’s so motivating to take a class where the energy of the music matches the exercises you’re performing. So many times, this has given me a boost to lift heavier and work harder. I’m a huge fan of music-driven workouts and these never disappoint.
– You get a blend of cardio and strength without the impact
– You can do it anywhere! All you need is a set of light dumbbells or flat weights
– You’ll train your body in a different way. This is an excellent format to implement with more traditional hypertrophy training, especially since it emphasizes core stabilization, lateral movements (which we’re often lacking! It’s smart to move the body in all directions), and a focus on endurance training and flexibility
– You can modify! If you don’t want to jump, no worries. They provide modifications and progressions along the way so that strong dancers can leap and turn their hearts out while the beginners or non-dancers still get an awesome workout
Cons of Les Mills Barre
– They don’t actually use a barre, which is different from many boutique barre formats. All of the exercises are done in the center of the floor. I don’t think this is a huge con – I think you get more cardio benefits when you’re not holding onto the barre – but think that it can be a nice tool tool for standing glutes and hamstrings work. It’s nice to have a barre to hold onto for balance if you need it, or if you’re pregnant and have a shifting center of gravity. (Barre was one of my #1 pregnancy workouts.)
Have you tried Les Mills Barre? What did you think? What’s your favorite Les Mills format?
Hope you have a happy Monday and I’ll see ya soon!
xoxo
Gina
Pics: Kristi Harris
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